China’s aluminium billet inventories record a decline of 19,300 tonnes on May 14

According to Shanghai Metals Market, aluminium billet inventories in China have declined over the week, ending Thursday, May 14, following a marginal rise last week on Wednesday, May 6. As arrivals were limited since the past one week amidst stable shipments from warehouses, the aluminium billet inventories plunged by 19,300 tonnes to 112,800 tonnes, across five major Chinese consumption areas, as of May 14. Between April 30-May 6, the stocks increased by 2,700 tonnes to stand at 132,100 tonnes.

The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China in more details:

As the above chart suggests, among all the major Chinese provinces, Wuxi has seen the highest drop in aluminium billet inventories today. The stocks there have decreased by 8,230 tonnes to stand at 13,370 tonnes. In Foshan and Changzhou, the inventories have shrunk by 3,900 tonnes and 3,370 tonnes, respectively, to hover at 68,400 tonnes and 12,230 tonnes. In Huzhou and Nanchang, the inventories have declined by 3,000 tonnes and 800 tonnes to come in at 13,000 tonnes and 5,800 tonnes.

But despite the fall in billet inventories, the prices of aluminium alloys have recorded no hike but remained restrained. While the aluminium alloys (ADC12) price continued to hover at RMB 13,950 per tonne, the prices of aluminium alloy (A356) and aluminium alloy (A380) remained restrained at RMB 13,550 per tonne and RMB 14,850 per tonne, respectively.